How do you find out how much snow an area got?

A:

Quick Answer

As of November 2014, the National Weather Service website has three ways to check the snowfall of a particular area, including the Snow and Ice section of the National Climatic Data Center, local climate weather reports, and national snow and ice charts. Each portion of the NWS's website delivers snowfall data in a different way.

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The Snow and Ice portion of the NCDC contains links to recent snowfall and snow depths that go back seven days. These maps are by state or for the entire United States. The regional snowfall index notes the impacts of huge snowstorms that affect the eastern two-thirds of the United States. The RSI categorizes storms using a one-through-five numbering scheme similar to that used for hurricanes. Snow cover maps and daily snowfall reports show data for snowfall throughout North America.

Local climate reports give detailed aspects of weather reported on a certain day, month or year. For example, the St. Louis weather station has daily climate reports for two months. Annual climate reports summarize annual precipitation totals for a local area, a figure that also includes annual snowfall totals. Regional summaries go back one full calendar year.

The NCDC also features the National Snow and Ice Report, which is published monthly and is archived back to 2002. Each report includes weather maps, notes on snow cover and any record snowfalls that occurred during that particular month.